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There’s still many unanswered questions as to what led to an explosion and the ignition of flames that destroyed a house on East Angela Street, seriously injuring a woman and damaging two neighboring homes.

Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department officials have handed the investigation over to the Pleasanton Police Department, according to fire spokeswoman Sabina Imrie. Imrie said in instances where the fire is severe, damage estimates are in the $1 million range and there are major injuries, it’s common for the fire department to transfer the case to police.

Sgt. Jim Knox of the Pleasanton Police Department declined to discuss details of the investigation, including whether the fire, which occurred on Dec. 8, was caused by a natural gas line leak or any other ignition device. He said he couldn’t determine when police would wrap up the case or reveal more information.

“We’re looking at a number of issues,” Knox said. “Because it’s an ongoing investigation, I’m not going to disclose any details of the investigation. At this point, it’s undetermined exactly where and how it started.”

Knox said 40-year-old Deonna Zuffa, who received second- and third-degree burns, is still receiving care at St. Francis Memorial Hospital in San Francisco, where she is in critical but stable condition. Donations, both monetary and clothing, are being received by Pleasanton Middle School, where the youngest son of the family, Devon Zuffa, is a seventh-grader. For information, call the school at 426-4390.

The fire not only displaced the Zuffa family, but also the DePieros, who live next door.

Their two-story home in the 800 block of East Angela Street sustained damage to two bedrooms and it’s estimated that they won’t be able to live in the house for up to three months.

The DePieros, an elderly couple who live with their daughter Nancy Dooty and her two teenage children, are currently staying at a local hotel. Efforts are in the works to set up a bank account for donations to help the family. Check www.pleasantonweekly.com for updates.

Records show the house where the fire originated was sold in a foreclosure sale Sept. 30 to Marilyn and Richard Greenberg and it’s unclear if the Greenberg’s had insurance on the single-story home, valued on some real estate websites at $938,000.

Family escapes garage fire

Another Pleasanton home was recently damaged by a fire, displacing the family to a hotel until the home is fixed.

Nancy Bowen, a neighbor, said another neighbor leaving for work around 4 a.m. Sunday saw flames while driving down Valley Trails Drive and called 911. The neighbor also called her husband, whom Bowen said pried open the fence to the home to wake up the family.

Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department spokeswoman Sabina Imrie said the garage fire in a home in the 3000 block of Harpers Ferry Court was started by a car fire and spread to the garage. Three engines and a truck were dispatched and the fire was put out at 4:37 a.m. Firefighters were able to contain it to the garage, Imrie said.

The damage to the garage is estimated to cost $70,000 as well as an additional $50,000 in lost goods, which includes a vehicle.

Imrie confirmed the efforts of the neighbor to wake the family, saying the two adults, a 17-year-old and a 21-month-old baby didn’t suffer any injuries.

Emily West contributed to this report.

Emily West contributed to this report.

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9 Comments

  1. According to this story, the police sgt. says “At this point, it’s undetermined exactly where and how it started.”

    This kind of statement released to the public is very commonly found in fire investigation cases before the complete facts are known or investigated sufficiently to arrive at official conclusions. The public is generally not very scientifically or critical thinking minded, and therefore buys into these statements that imply but don’t say explicitly that little is known. But….. The officials are not saying they don’t know what the fuel source was. They are saying they don’t know what the “match” that set it off was (“how it started”) and where (“exactly where”) that match was located at the time of the explosion. Whether the fuel was gaseous, liquid, or solid is likely to already be known based upon the physical evidence and chemical evidence at the scene.

    In fact the officials “declined to discuss details of the investigation, including whether the fire, which occurred on Dec. 8, was caused by a natural gas line leak or….” So, we know they know.

  2. This house explosion is suspicious!! I hope the lady that got hurt is recovering better each day and for the other families that their houses were damaged from the explosion,you are in my thoughts and prayers!!!

  3. I can recall several fires in Pleasanton and the cause of the fire is always released by the Fire Department. The fact that this fire was turned over to the Pleasanton Police Department makes me think there is a potential criminal element. This is going to be sad for all the many people collecting money, gift cards and donations for this family if my suspicions are true…

  4. I’m wondering about the single sentence about the ownership of the house. It had been foreclosed on but the old family still lived there several months later? It looks like the Weekly just printed that from public records, though, and didn’t interview anyone about it. Doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong or suspicious about that but it is unusual, especially about the insurance.

  5. Don’t the public records say it sold at foreclosure for $75K? That,along with further investigation, does offer an air of suspicion. I, too, hope the individuals recover fully from any injuries.

  6. On second thought…it seems highly unrealistic that the 75K is accurate even in a foreclosure scenario. I can’t imagine anyone letting such an expensive home go for pennies.

  7. If a natural gas leak fills the interior of a house it can be ignited by simply “turning on/off” a light/appliance…

    When an electrical switch is switched to the “off” position a tiny spark is generated as the switch contacts seperate. This “sparking” can also occur when turning “on” a swith where the contacts/wiring “make up” poorly. If enough gas is present this can cause ignition…

    Use common sense and leave a house immediately if you have a strong smell of natural gas. Don’t investigate – that’s why we have PG&E. Let the experts do the investigating…

    The young lady has my deepest sympathy and best wishes. I’ve known a severe burn victim and the road to recovery is long and extremely painful…

  8. “On second thought…it seems highly unrealistic that the 75K is accurate even in a foreclosure scenario. I can’t imagine anyone letting such an expensive home go for pennies.”

    Let the investigation continue and stop trying to speculate about what really happened.

    If this was indeed a foreclosure, it was an unusual one – public records show that the people who now own the house also acted as lenders in the past, when refinancing took place.

    Let the papers do the reporting. The focus should be: help the family by donating money.

  9. I don’t appreciate the negativity that is being spread about the “suspicious nature” of this fire. Does anyone even stop to think that the Zuffa kids may be reading what you are posting??? And as someone who knows and was involved in helping them out do I feel upset???…no because what I did was, ultimately, for the kids and because I wanted to. You give because you want to…you shouldn’t give to someone in need with conditions attached.

  11. I live two towns away,& I hear all different stories. You people need to mind your own business,and STOP making up your own theory!
    This is a great family! Let the police do their job!

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